Fluyts were invented by the Dutch around 1600, then widely copied throughout northern Europe. Fluyts are cargo vessels specially designed to be cheap to operate and able to get in and out of poor anchorages. The Fluyt can be sailed with a tiny crew (12 to 15 men is not uncommon).
Despite its large cargo capacity, the Fluyt possesses a draft so shallow that it can enter rivers, coves and small harbors inaccessible to larger craft.
These slow and unmaneuverable vessels make poor warships and horrible pirate vessels (although lucrative pirate prey).
The Large Fluyt and West Indiaman are bigger versions of this ship. |
14.05.2008 - 
